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Gomes believes

Heurelho Gomes knows that anything can happen in football ahead of our Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid.

Heurelho Gomes knows that anything can happen in football ahead of our Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid.

The goalkeeper experienced something of a miracle during his days at PSV Eindhoven.

He explains: “In 2006-07 and we had Vitesse at home on the last day of the season. We had to beat them by four goals to win the league and we did it! We beat them 5-1. They said it was over for us because Ajax were at home and had the advantage [on goal difference].”

Ajax even won their game 2-0 but it wasn’t enough. It is perhaps this experience that gives Gomes belief ahead of Wednesday night’s clash.

We have to overturn a 4-0 first leg deficit against Real to advance, but the Brazilian insists the team have been buoyed by Saturday’s 3-2 Premier League win over Stoke – a team the goalkeeper suggests are even tougher to break down than the Spanish giants.

And back on our own patch, Gomes insists the fans can play a key role in helping us achieve what is widely seen as a mission impossible.

So it’s a case of looking to win on the night first and foremost, and then you never know. After all, comebacks have become something of a forte for Harry Redknapp’s men this season…

Gomes added: “It’s going to be a massive game. I’ve been speaking to the boys and we know that if we score goals like we did on Saturday and not concede, we can move on.

“Of course it’s difficult, but I think it’s more difficult to score against English teams than against European teams. It’s not easy to score against a team like Stoke because they’re big lads and they block everything.

“We need the fans more than ever. They showed how important they are on Saturday and on Wednesday they can push us.

“We deserve to be in the Champions League and have shown a lot of character before in coming back from difficult situations. We’ll think about winning the game and then maybe, why not?

“We need to pressure them from the beginning until the end. It’s not over – we can do it.”